By Kady Cramer
Red Bridge Shopping Center will host their Summer Kick Off Craft Fair with Strawberry Swing on Saturday, May 21 from 10am-4pm at 11212 Holmes Rd. The event will include a summer-inspired outdoor party with live music, children’s activities, yard games, summer treats and more.
To provide the perfect summer ambiance, shoppers can listen to local live music all day on the north side of the center by Crows Coffee. Dave and Beth Irvin, a Christian based singer/songwriter group from Peculiar, will perform from 10am-1pm and provide a family style show. Husband and wife, Dave and Beth have been performing together for more than 30 years. Using their many talents, they bring a comedic insight to create original uplifting songs.
Headlining from 1-4pm, Jesica “Baby J” DeLong will perform all the old favorite jazz tunes as well as modern songs with jazz flavor. A La Mode is, at its core, an authentic jazz band built upon Kansas City’s rich heritage of swing and blues.
After attending Stephens College in Columbia, MO pursuing a degree in musical theater performance, DeLong returned to Kansas City to start her career as a working musician and has been in the entertainment business ever since. Don’t let her small size fool you, this pint-sized singer can pack a punch. Jesica has performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Arrowhead Stadium, The Plaza Art Fair, and The Folly, to name a few.
The Summer Kick Off will also include over 20 local artists and makers from Strawberry Swing as well as your favorite Red Bridge tenants.
“I’m really excited to bring The Swing back to Red Bridge,” says Strawberry Swing’s owner/curator Katie Mabry. “We had a great time during the South KC Block Party last fall and are excited to bring new makers and artists to South KC.”
A special children’s tent will offer face painters, balloon twisters, chalk, bubbles, and more. Parking lot yard games will include Jenga and Corn Hole. The first 200 children will receive admission coupons to The Regnier Family Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City .
For more information visit @redbridgeshoppingcenter on Facebook.